Wire-clamp.



, 0. MABRY.

4 WIRE CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1911.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

Inventor Attorneys If 14 J3 flaw/Why;

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OSCAR MABRY, OF BETHEL, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 LUTHER HORN, 0F BETHEL, TENNESSEE.

WIRE-CLAMP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR MABRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bethel, in the county of Giles and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Wire-Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wire clamps especially for use in stretch a ing fence-wire.

The invention has for its object to provide for facility of manipulation and actuation of the device.

A further object is to provide for the effective wire-stretching operation.

A still further object is to provide for expeditiously disassembling and reassembling the clamp-members.

A still further object is to carry out the aforesaid ends in a simple, ready and effective manner.

The invention consists of certain instrumentalities and features substantially as hereinafter fully described and defined by the claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, wherein it will be understood that various changes may be made therein as relates to the detailed construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of my invention: Figure 1 is a partly side-elevation and partly sectional elevation of the invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical section produced upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 viewing in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 1 is a like section produced upon the line 44 viewing in the direction of the arrows.

In putting my invention into practice, I employ, two clamp or j aw-members 1 and 2, preferably of the general outline as disclosed, the same being two rectangular bars, with a central longitudinal convex or rounded tongue 3 and a concaved groove or depression 4:, therein, respectively, as seen particularly in Figs. 3 and 1 which rounded tongue and concavity or groove form the direct wire-gripping surfaces. These bars or jaws have also extending transversely therethrough vertical apertures or passages 5 and 6, each bar having preferably two apertures or passages, an upper and a lower aperture or passage of each bar or jaw alin- Specification of Letters Yatent.

Application filed June 14, 1911.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

Serial No. 633,134.

ing each other, which will be further adverted to in the further description of the parts. Upright ratchet members or bars 7 extend through the apertures or passages 5 and 6, said bars or members being each provided in one side, that most distant with the other, with numerous notches, serrations or teeth 8, while through said uprights are inserted, near their extreme upper ends, transverse pins 9, the purpose of which will be apparent farther along. Said upright ratchet members have their notched portions suitably fitting the apertures or passages 5, in cross-section, as disclosed and for obvious reasons, while the remaining lower portions of said upright members have a much less cross-sectional area that that of the openings or passages 6 the purpose of which will be apparent presently. The lower portions of the upright members 7 are cylindrical as at 10 and screw-threaded for a portion of their lengths as at 11, and thereon are fitted followers 12 and nuts 13, the nuts 13 being applied below the followers 12 to prevent the casual displacement of the latter as will be appreciated. The nuts 13 are secured or retained in their fixed position preferably by inserting suitable means, as pins 14 therethrough, said pins entering or passing transversely through the screw threaded portions of the bars 7.

It will be noted that by suitably manipulating the followers 12 to dispose their lengths in parallelism with the corresponding area of the openings or passages 6, which passages 6 and followers 12 are longer one way than the other, the removable lower jaw member 2 may be readily removed, of course, downwardly, as required in applying the device to the fence-wire, and in stretching and stringing wire-strands as for instance in building wire-fences. Of course, it is understood that the followers 12 and nuts 13 are applied to the threaded portions of the ratchet upright members 7 themselves, for the retention of said upright members in effective relation with respect to the clamp bars or jaws 1 and 2.

Suitable pawls 15 for adjusting the notched upright-members in the form of stirrups or loops, are suitably applied to said upright-members, said pawls or stirrups having tapered inner edge portions 16 engaging, or received by the notches 8 of said upright members, as indicated by Fig. 1.

These pawls hang loosely upon and are initially in engagement with the notched upright members 7 under the action of gravity and are manually actuated by levers l7 pivotally connected thereto and fulcrumed upon brackets 0r supports 18 preferably integral with the upper jaw-member 1.

Suitable resiliently controlled detaining pawls 19 engage the notched jaw-actuating upright-members 7 to intermittently hold the same as the adjusting pawls 15 are being disengaged from said notched upright-members while vertically adjusting said notched upright-members step by step, as will be readily understood. The detaining pawls 19 include tapered dog-like members 19 having their pivoted ends receiving pintles' or pivots 19 in turn received by ears or keepers 19 anchored in the upper surface of the upper jaw-member 1, and resilient frame, or like, members 19 coiled intermediate their lengths upon said pintles or pivots, one end of each resilient member bearing upon said upper jaw-member and the other ends of said resilient members engaging or delivering tension to said pawls or dogs. In effecting the suitable separation or disassembling of the lower jaw-member as re quired for the application of the device to the wire or wires for suitably effecting the wire stretching and stringing operation, the cross-pins or stops 9 at the upper ends of the notched jaw carrying upright-members 7 will prevent the casual displacement of said notched-upright members with respect to the manually actuated pawls and accordingly to the upper jaw member, as will be readily appreciated.

It is thought that it is clearly apparent from the foregoing disclosure taken in connection with the accompanying illustration or drawing, that my invention is characterized for extreme simplicity, the same embracing but few parts, and is accordingly inexpensive of manufacture while the employment of intricate appliances or multiplicity of bolts and nuts is obviated, it also being readily applied for use and operated with therethrough, ratchet-members received by said apertures, manually actuated levers fulcrumed upon one of said jaw-members, resillently controlled detalnmg pawls engaging said ratchet members, said pawls being carried by said jaw member, manually actuated levers fulcrumed upon the same jaw member and having pivotally connected thereto stirrup-like pawls adapted to engage said ratchet-bars.

3. A device of the character described, including jaw-members having apertures therethrough, one jaw-member being equipped with resiliently-controlled detaining pawls, ratchet upright members received by said apertures and engaged by said detaining pawls, said ratchet upright-members hav ing lower-scrcw-threaded bolt forming gortions, nuts applied to said bolt-forming portions, one nut upon each bolt-forming portion serving as a lock or retainer for the adjacent nut, stirrup'like pawls receiving and engaging said ratehetmembers and manually actuated levers fulcrumed upon one jaw-member and having pivotal connection with said stirrup-like pawls.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR MABRY.

Htnesses lVM. A. LEGG, D. G. MAPLES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

